Display rack



June 10, 1930. M. D. MENDLE 1,763,247

DISPLAY RACK Filed Jan. so, 1928 YEN TOR Patented June 10, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MILTON D. MENDLE, F CLAYTON, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN FIXTURE & SHOWCASE MFG. 00., OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A. CORPORATION OF MISSOURI DISPLAY BACK Application filed January 30, 1928.

This invention relates generally to display racks and, more particularly, to a certain new and useful improvement in racks especially adapted for the display of oil-cloth or other merchandise or goods in roll form.

My invention has, among its objects, the provision of a rack of the type and forthe purpose stated which is of simple, economical, durable, and rigid structure, which may be easily moved from place to place in a store or other enclosure, which is capable of, and equipped with means for, severing measured quantities or sections from the displayed rolled merchandise, and which is efficient in the performance of its intended functions.

And with the above and other objects in View, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a front elevational View of a display-rack embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the rack;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental vertical sectional view of the rack; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental front elevational view of the rack.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my in- V vention, the fixture or rack is of upright type and includes a skeleton-frame composed of a pair of suitably spaced parallel standards 1 preferably in the form of pipe-bars rigldly joined and fixed together at top and bottom by cross-members 2 also preferably in the 4 form of pipe-bars, as shown. Suitably fixed to the lower cross-bar 2, are outwardly presented oppositely disposed feet 3, upon which are suitably journaled rollers 4:, whereby the the fixture may be conveniently rolled and moved to any selected display-location in a store, enclosure, or the like.

Suitably secured to, and disposed in suitably spaced relation along diametrically opposite faces of, the uprights or standards 1,

. are series of outwardly presented brackets 5,

the brackets 5 upon one side of the standards Serial No. 250,671.

1 being disposed, longitudinally of the rackframe, in aligning pairs, and rested upon the respective pairs of brackets 5 upon preferably both sides of the rack, are elongated troughs 6 for respectivel holding and displaying the rolls 7 of oil-cloth or other goods or merchandise, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Preferably the rack is of knock-down structure forconvenience in shipping, and to this end each of the brackets? is provided at its inner end with an angular extension 8 adapted to endwise fit in bearing relation upon the standard 1 in a pocket or opening, as at 9, provided for the purpose in a ring 10 welded or otherwise fixed upon the standard 1, all as best seen in Figure 3.

In addition to the several displayingtroughs 6, the rack is providedat its upper end and upon one side with a plurality of arcuate or trough-shaped brackets 11 preferably detachably bolted or otherwise secured at their one or inner end, as at 12, to respective rings 13 disposed upon and preferably welded or otherwise fixed to the frame upper cross-bar 2 intermediate the uprights 1, as best .seen in Figure 3, each bracket 11 at its other or outer end being formedbr provided with an outwardly presented lip or extension 14. The several brackets 11 are disposed in suitably spaced relation longitudinally of the rack and are secured together in single trough formation by means of a flat strip 15 disposed upon and preferably welded or otherwise fixed to the lips 14: of the several brackets 11, the end brackets of the series being strengthened and the entire trough so formed being re-enforced by'straps 16 welded or otherwise fixed to said end brackets and to the frame uprights 1.

17 designates a member or rail whichfis approximately U-shape in section and which is fixed at its bight 17 flatwise upon the upper face of the strip 15 and thus provides an upwardly presented channel or way, for purposes shortly appearing.

18-18 designate angle-members having legs a disposed in lengthwise registering relation and spaced a distance somewhat greater than the width of the rail or channel 17, the other legs 6 of angles 18'-18 being outward- 1y presented in opposed relation, as best seen in Figure 3. The angles 1818 are fixed together at their ends in said spaced relation by cross-strips 19 and form both a cutter-supporting and goodsclamping frame, which for swingable movement relatively to the rail or channel 17 is hingedly connected by means of arms 20 to the frame upper cross-bar 2.

21 designates an inverted substantially U- shape member, whose legs are oppositely outwardly extended to rest upon the legs I) of the angles 18-18 and whose legs are preferably further extended and flanged under said angle-legs b to retain the member 21 in operative position, as best shown in Figure 8, the member 21 being adapted for slidable movement lengthwise of and along the angle-legs b. Suitably fixed to and upon the member 21, is a gripping or actuating knob 22, and suitably supported and carried by the member 21, is a knifeblade 23, which normally or operatively depends into the channel 17.

Now, assume a quantity of one of the displayed rolls, as for instance, roll 7 is to be severed. The particular roll 7 is disposed in the upper trough formed by the brackets 11. The frame formed as described by the angles 18-18 and their supported cutter being hingedly swung into the position thereof shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the free edge of the particular roll is brought over the channel 17 and the desired quantity to be severed suitably measured. The cuttercarrier is then lowered into operative position straddling the channel 17 and thereby clamping the cloth thereupon. By means then of the gripping or actuating member 22, the knife-blade 23 is shifted longitudinally of the channel 17 and the interposed cloth thus conveniently and accurately severed along the desired line.

The rack as a whole may be inexpensively constructed, affords maximum display facilities, enables ready handling, measuring, and severing of the displayed goods, and has been found exceedingly satisfactory and efficient in use.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my new display-fixture may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

Goods cutting means including, in combination, an elongated channeled member adapted to underlie the goods along a proposed line of severance, an elongated frame adapted removably to straddle the channeled member for clamping the goods thereupon, said frame including oppositely disposed outwardly presented portions, an inverted substantially U-shaped member having portions flanged around said portions of the frame 

